Envelope folder

ABSTRACT

An envelope folder including a feed mechanism, a scoring mechanism, a folding mechanism, and a delivery mechanism. The feed mechanism includes a separator arm for separating a single envelope blank from the bottom of a stack of blanks, and for urging the envelope blank against a rotary vacuum drum. The separator arm includes rollers for rolling over the surface of the vacuum drum and the envelope blank transferred to the vacuum drum. The scoring mechanism includes scoring blades which are adjustable toward and away from each other, and which are supported at various points along their lengths. The folding mechanism comprises a pair of rollers which urge each successive envelope blank to a predetermined position, releases the envelope blank, and grasps the envelope blank again and moves it in a different direction to effect a fold on the score line on the envelope. The delivery mechanism includes a disc defining curved slots for receiving envelopes and carrying the envelopes to a stacking station, and an endless belt extending around the axle of the disc and movable toward the stacking station to gradually urge the envelopes out of their respective slots as they approach the stacking station.

United States Patent David G. Summons 12" Avon Avenue. S.W., Atlanta,Ga.

[72] Inventor 30310 [2|] Appl. No. 772,769 [22] Filed Nov. 1, 1968 {45]Patented June 22,197!

[54] ENVELOPE FOLDER 5 Claims, 21 Drawing Figs.

20, ll, l2, 13

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1953 Skow 3/ l 962Dotzenroth Primary Examiner.loseph Wegbreit AttorneyJones and ThomasABSTRACT: An envelope folder including a feed mechanism, a scoringmechanism, a folding mechanism, and a delivery mechanism. The feedmechanism includes a separator arm for separating a single envelopeblank from the bottom of a stack of blanks, and for urging the envelopeblank against a rotary vacuum drum. The separator arm includes rollersfor rolling over the surface of the vacuum drum and the envelope blanktransferred to the vacuum drum. The scoring mechanism includes scoringblades which are adjustable toward and away from each other, and whichare supported at various points along their lengths. The foldingmechanism comprises a pair of rollers which urge each successiveenvelope blank to a predetermined position, releases the envelope blank,and grasps the envelope blank again and moves it in a differentdirection to effect a fold on the score line on the envelope. Thedelivery mechanism includes a disc defining curved slots for receivingenvelopes and carrying the envelopes to a stacking station, and anendless belt extending around the axle of the disc and movable towardthe stacking station to gradually urge the envelopes out of theirrespective slots as they approach the stacking station.

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INVENTOR. Davld Sammons Emu-Aim ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUNZZIHH 3586312 SHEET5 0F 5 39 D S INVENTOR. 81 BY aVl ammons ATTORNEYS ENVELOPE FOLDERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ln'the manufacture of envelopes, paper iscut to form an envelope blank, and the blank is folded, and its flapsare glued together. While various machines have been utilized to performthe folding and gluing functions, the machines presently in use areexpensive, occupy an excessive amount of working space, are notadaptable to various sizes and types of envelopes, and jam frequently.Most specifically, at the feed end of the envelope folding machinespreviously utilized, the envelope blanks are usually arranged in a feedstack, and the bottom envelope blank is retrieved from the feed stackand processed through a path where it is scored, folded, and glued. Thevarious feeding mechanisms utilized for retrieving the envelope blanksfrom the feed pile are inefi'icient in that they frequently fail toretrieve an envelope blank, or they position the envelope blank out ofphase with the associated apparatus, or they feed more than one envelopeblank to the apparatus at a time, or they otherwise generallymalfunction to cause a jam in the folding apparatus. One of the reasonsfor the malfunctioning of the previously known feed apparatus is that itis sometimes difficult to slide the bottom envelope blank from the feedpile, and positively position the envelope blank on the conveyor line.While various vacuum mechanisms have been utilized in an attempt topositively grip envelope blanks, the resistance to sliding friction onthe surface of vacuum drums, etc. is slight, which allows the blanks toslide or slip on the vacuum drums and become misaligned in the system.

With respect to scoring mechanisms, the mechanisms previously utilizedare not versatile in that they are difficult to adjust to form scoresthat create envelopes of different sizes, and the scoring bladesfrequently become misaligned, bowed, or otherwise incapable ofperforming the desired function.

With respect to the folding mechanism, the previously utilized apparatusmust be precisely adjusted and controlled to create a fold on the scoreline when various sizes of envelopes are folded.

With respect to the delivery mechanism, a plurality of slotted discs arenormally used to individually receive each envelope delivered from thefolding apparatus and deliver the envelopes individually to a stackingstation. The arrangement is such that the desired high peripheral speedof the slotted disc frequently scorches, tears, or creases the envelopesas they are removed from the slots of the disc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present inventioncomprises an envelope folder which functions to fold and stack envelopesat a high speed and with extreme accuracy. The envelope blanks arepositively fed from a feed stack onto a rotating vacuum drum. A rotaryscoring mechanism is utilized to score each envelope blank. The scoringmechanism is adjustable so that its scoring blades can be positioned toscore the envelope blanks at virtually any position, and its structureis such that the scoring blades are supported at various positions alongtheir respective lengths to prevent bowing or bending. The foldingmechanism includes a pair of rollers normally engaging each other forreceiving the envelope blanks therebetween. The rollers positively driveeach envelope blank toward a holding mechanism and then release theenvelope blank so that the holding mechanism maintains the envelopeblank in a predetermined position, whereupon one of the rollers graspsthe flap of the envelope blank adjacent the score line of the blank andpulls it in a direction generally normal to the flat plane of the blankto fold the blank at its score line. The delivery mechanism includes aplurality of slotted discs for individually receiving each envelopeblank from the folding apparatus. The slots of the disc are curvedinwardly of the periphery of the discs, and an endless belt extendsaround the axle of the discs and beyond the perimeter of the discs. Theendless belt is driven at a speed which corresponds to the effectiveoutward movement of the slots of the discs as the slots pass astationary plane, so that the leading edge of each envelope does notbind, tear or crease as it is extracted from the slotted discs.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide an envelope folderwhich is economical to construct and operate, which is highly effectiveand accurate in folding and stacking envelopes, and which does not jamor otherwise malfunction in its operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a feeding mechanism forpositively feeding envelope blanks from a feed pile into a scoring andfolding mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a scoring mechanism whichis durable, and which is adjustable to form various scoring arrangementson envelope blanks.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding mechanism whichfunctions to fold the flaps of envelopes on the previously created scoreline in spite of misalignment of the envelopes in the folding mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a delivery mechanism fordelivering envelopes from a folding apparatus which functions to deliverand stack envelopes without danger of tearing, scorching, creasing orotherwise damaging the envelopes.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION 'OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of theenvelope folder.

FIG. 2 is a side view, in cross section, of the receiving drum, and themanner in which the chain of the aligning conveyor cooperates with thereceiving drum.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the envelope blank feed mechanism, andthe aligning conveyor.

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the envelope blank feed mechanism andthe aligning conveyor.

FIG. 4a is a bottom view of the separator discs of the feed mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a partial top view of the scorer.

FIG. 6 is an end view, in cross section, taken along lines 6-6 of FIG.5, of the scorer.

FIG. 7 is an end view, in cross section, taken along lines 7-7 of FIG.5, of the scorer.

FIG. 8 is a detail showing of an arcuate scoring blade assembly.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an arcuate scoring bladeassembly.

FIG. 10 is a partial side elevational view of the envelope flap foldingmechanism and the delivery mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a partial top plan view of the delivery mechanism.

FIG. 12-17 are schematic showings of the feeding mechanism, showing thesequence in which the mechanism operates.

FIGS. l8-20 are schematic showings of the folding and deliverymechanism, showing the sequence in which the mechanism operates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now particularly tothe drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout theseveral views, FIG. I shows envelope folder 21 which includes feedmechanism 22, aligning conveyor 24, scoring mechanism 25, end flapsfolder 26, glue applicator 28, bottom flap folder 29, top flap folder30, transfer drum 31, and delivery mechanism 32.

As is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, feed mechanism 22 comprises suction arm34, separating arm 35, retaining arm 36, a pair of rotary discs 38, andfeeding drum 39. Suction arm 34 has nozzle 40 attached to one of itsends, and the other of its ends is rigidly held in mounting block 41.Mounting block 41 is rigidly connected to oscillating rod 42, andflexible conduit 44 communicates with suction arm 34 and with a sourceof vacuum (not shown). Cam follower 45 is also connected to oscillatingrod 42, and cam disc 46 engages cam follower 45. Cam disc 46 is rigidlyconnected to rotatable cam shaft 48. Thus, rotation of cam shaft 48 by adriving means (not shown) causes cam disc 46 to rotate, and its camsurface functions to oscillate cam follower 45 and oscillating rod 42.Mounting block 41 thus oscillates to move suction arm 34 in thedirection as indicated by arrow 49 (FIG. 4).

As is shown in F165. 4 and 4a, rotary discs 38 are mounted on driveshafts 50 above feeding drum 39 and move in the directions as indicatedby arrows 51. A feeding stack of envelope blanks 52 is partiallysupported by discs 38. Each disc 38 is broken along its periphery at 54,and the advancing edge 55 of the break in each disc 38 functions to helpseparate the bottom envelope from the feed pile 52 during the movementof discs 38. The envelopes comprise the usual body portion 56, end flaps58, bottom flap 59, and sealing flap 60. Bottom flap 59 is left exposedby disc 38, and suction arm 34 is movable up to a position adjacentdiscs 38 into engagement with the bottom flap 59 of the bottom envelopeof feeding stack 52. Thus, the vacuum source communicates throughsuction arm 34 to bottom flap 59 of bottom envelope 61.

Separating arm 35 includes rocker arm 62 connected intermediate its endsby pivot pin 63 to cam follower arm 64. Cam follower arm 64 is pivotallyconnected to rod 65, and follows the surface of cam disc 66. Rocker arm62 includes a curved cam surface 68 which extends toward and beneathoscillating rod 42. The other end of rocker arm 62 extends towardfeeding drum 39 and includes separating tongue 69 and rollers 70. Tongue69 extends upwardly and generally about the surface of feeding drum 39,while rollers 70 extend beyond the end of separating arm 35 and aremovable into rolling engagement with feeding drum 39. Tongue 69 ispointed and thus maneuverable between bottom envelope blank 61 andfeeding stack 52. The cam surface 68 of rocker arm 62 is held inengagement with oscillating rod 42 by means of tension spring 71, whiletongue 69 is biased toward the position as shown in FIG. 4 by tensionspring 72.

Retaining arm 36 is movable toward and away from feeding stack 52 bymeans of cam follower arm 74. Cam follower arm 74 is similar to camfollower arm 64, in that it is L-shaped and pivotal about shaft 65. Camfollower arm 74 follows the surface of cam disc 75. Retaining arm 36includes retaining hook 76 adjacent feeding stack 52. With the movementof retaining arm 36 by the action of its cam disc 75, retaining hook 76is repeatedly moved toward and away from feeding stack 52, tointermittently support the bottom flap 59 of the bottom envelope 61 offeeding stack 52, and to withdraw from feeding stack 52 to allow suctionarm 34 to grasp the bottom envelope 61 and move it away from feedingstack 52.

Feeding drum 39 is rotatably supported beneath feeding stack 52 andmovable in the direction as indicated by arrow 78. A plurality ofapertures 79 extend through the surface of feeding drum 39. A vacuum isdrawn within feeding drum 39, so that air would normally flow from theoutside to the inside of the feeding drum. A valve system is utilizedwith feeding drum 39 so that a vacuum is exerted within feeding drum 39as its apertures 79 travel through the arc indicated as a.

Aligning conveyor 24 is placed with its upper horizontal flight 80positioned beneath feeding drum 39 and extending toward the remainingelements of the envelope folder. Aligning pins 82 are positioned atspaced intervals along each chain of conveyor 80. As is shown in FIGS. 2and 3, feeding drum 39 defines spaced grooves 84 in its surface, andaligning pins 82 of the chains of conveyor 80 extend up into grooves 84as they pass beneath feeding drum 39.

As is shown in FIG. 5, scoring mechanism 25 includes scorer 85 whichcomprises shaft 86, crescent-shaped scoring blade assemblies 88 and 89,fixed rectilinear scoring blade assembly 90 and movable rectilinearscoring blade assembly 91. As is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9,crescent-shaped scoring blade assemblies 88 and 89 each comprisessupport sleeve 92 which is contractable by means of its split ringarrangement 94 into gripping relationship with shaft 86. Mounting flange95 extends radially outwardly from sleeve 92, and boss 96 protrudeslaterally from mounting flange'95. Aperture 98 is defined in mountingflange 95 a distance spaced from boss 96. A pair of crescent-shapedscoring blades 99 and 100 are connected to mounting flange 95. Blade 99includes a pair of spaced apertures 101 and 102 which are alignable withaperture 98 and the aperture of boss 96 of mounting flange 95. Scoringblade 100 defines elongate arcuate slot 104 which is positionableadjacent aperture 98 of mounting flange 95, and indentation 105 which isslidable into abutting relationship with boss 96. Scoring blades 99 and100 includes beveled cutting edges 106 and 107. As is shown in FIG. 8,beveled sharpened edge 106 of scoring blade 99 is tapered toward scoringblade 100 while beveled sharpened edge 107 of scoring blade 100 istapered toward blade 99. With this arrangement, a substantiallycontinuous cutting edge is provided by scoring blades 99 and 100,whether these blades are in complete overlapping relationship, orwhether scoring blade 100 is extended beyond the limits of scoring blade99. Scoring blades 99 and 100 are connected to mounting flange 95 byappropriate bolts 109 and 110. Scoring blade 100 is of a thickness ofapproximately equal to the length of boss 96, so that boss 96 functionsto hold scoring blade 99 spaced from mounting flange 95. Because of slot104, scoring blade 100 is movable radially about sleeve 92 ofcrescent-shaped scoring blade assembly 88. of course, once scoring blade100 is properly positioned, its bolts 109 and 110 can be tightened toretain scoring blade 100 in a fixed position.

As is shown in FIG. 5, fixed rectilinear scoring blade assembly 90includes support bar 111 which is maintained in spaced relationship fromshaft 86 by means of support blocks 112 and 114. Connecting screws 115extend through the ends of support bar 111 and through support block 112and 114 into shaft 86 to rigidly connect support bar 111 to shaft 86.Scoring blade 116 is connected to support bar 111 by means of threadedscrews (not shown). The sharpened edge 118 of scoring blade 116 extendsslightly beyond the arcuate outer surface of support bar 111. The edges106 and 107 of crescent-shaped scoring blades 99 and 100 extendoutwardly from shaft 86 a distance equal to the extension of the edge ofscoring blade 116.

As is shown in FIG. 6 movable rectilinear scoring blade assembly 91includes support bar 120 supported at its ends by sleeves 121 and 122.The split ring arrangement 124 of sleeves 121 and 122 allows the sleevesto be contracted into frictional engagement with shaft 86, to fixedlyconnect support bar 120 to shaft 86. Rectilinear scoring blade 126 isconnected to support bar 120 by means of screws (not shown), in such amanner that its sharpened edge 128 extends out a distance equal to theextension of the cutting edges of scoring blades 106, and 107, and 118.

Support sleeves 92 of crescent-shaped scoring blades assemblies 88 and89 engage the bottom surface of support bar 111 of fixed rectilinearscoring blade assembly 90 and engage the bottom surface of support bar120 of movable rectilinear scoring blade assembly 91. Also, supportsleeves 121 and 122 of movable rectilinear scoring blade assembly 91extends outwardly from shaft 86 a distance sufficient to engage thebottom surface of support bar 111 of fixed rectilinear scoring bladeassembly 90. Thus, support bar 111 is supported at six places along itslength: at its ends by support blocks 112 and 114; by support sleeves121 and 122; and by the support sleeves 92 of crescent-shaped scoringblade assemblies 88 and 89. Thus, the tendency of support bars 111 and120 to bow or otherwise bend, is virtually eliminated.

As is shown in FIG. 10, top flap folder 30 includes vacuum roller 130,pressure roller 131, and holding bracket 132. Vacuum roller 130 includesa line of apertures 134 extending through its surface, so that thevacuum applied to the inside of vacuum roller 130 draws air throughapertures 134. Vacuum roller 130 rotates in the direction as indicatedby arrow 135,

and a valve mechanism (not shown) is associated with vacuum roller 130so that a vacuum is applied to vacuum 130 as its apertures 134 passedthrough arc b on every fourth revolution. Pressure roller 131 isnormally in rolling contact with vacuum roller 130, and rotates in thedirection as indicated by arrow 136. The surface of pressure roller 131is slotted at 138, so that when slot 138 passes vacuum roller 130 thecontact between vacuum roller 130 and pressure roller 131 will berelieved. Holding bracket 132 includes arcuate guide plate 139, arcuatebiasing plate 140 and adjustable stop 141. The opening between guideplate 139 and biasing plate 140 is extended toward the line of contactbetween vacuum roller 130 and pressure roller 131 to receive envelopespassing between the rollers in the slot 142 defined between guide plate139 and biasing plate 140.

Transfer drum 144 is positioned adjacent vacuum roller 130 and rotatablein the direction as indicated by arrow 145. Transfer drum 144 defines aplurality of holes or apertures 146 and 147 on opposite sides thereof,and a valving mechanism (not shown) functions to create a vacuum withindrum 144 as apertures 146 and 147 pass through arc 0.

Delivery mechanism 32 includes a plurality of spaced slotted discs l49rotatably mounted on axle 150. Discs 149 rotate in the direction asindicated by arrow 151, and include a series of spaced arcuate slots 152which extend inwardly and forwardly from their peripheries, Slots 152are progressively curved inwardly of each disc 149. Endless belts 154extend around sheaves 155 which are rigidly connected to and driven byaxle 150. Belt 154 also idles around shaft 156. Sheave 155 is chosen sothat its tangential component of velocity, and thus the linear velocityof belt 154, is equal to the effective linear velocity of arcuate slots152 as they pass the stationary plane of upper flight 158 of belt 154.With this arrangement, when a slot 152 intersects the plane of upperflight 158 of belt 154, the point of intersection on flight 158 willtravel toward axle 158 of a linear velocity generally equal to theeffective linear velocity of the travel of the arcuate slot 152 towardaxle 156. Thus, any envelope present in an arcuate slot 152 will beurged outwardly of the arcuate slot by upper flight 158 of belt 154without encountering any binding, shearing or drag forces 1 by thesurface of belt 154.

Endless belt 160 extends across platform 161, and about intermediatedriven sheave 162. The envelopes extracted from slotted discs 149 byendless belt 154 will naturally stack in a vertical arrangement on belt160 and platform 161. The intermittent drive of sheave 162 and its belt160 is imparted to shaft 156 by means of gear 164 surrounding shaft 156,and pawl 165 engaging gear 164. Pawl 165 is reciprocated by means of cam166 mounted on shaft 150. The intermittent movement of belt 160functions to move the stack of envelopes away from slotted discs 149, tocreate a space for the receipt of additional envelopes from deliverymechanism 32.

OPERATION When the envelope folder is in operation a stack of envelopeblanks will be positioned on rotary discs 138 (FlGS. 4 and 4a) to form afeeding stack. When the apparatus is energized, rotary discs 38 andsuction arm 34 function to separate bottom envelope blank 61 from thefeeding stack 52. As is shown in the sequence of FIGS. 12 17 suction arm34 moves against the bottom flap of bottom envelope blank 61, its vacuumis applied to the bottom envelope blank, and suction arm 34 is thenmoved in a downward direction (FIG. 13). Separating arm 35 then moves toa position so that its tongue 69 protrudes into the space between bottomenvelope 61 and feeding stack 52, The movement of separating arm 35 ascontrolled by its cam surface 68 (FIG. 4) is such that tongue 69 movesgenerally parallel to the surfaces of the envelopes in the feeding stack52 until it enters the spaced between bottom envelope 61 and feedingstack 52, whereupon it begins its downward movement toward feeding drum39. As separating arm 35 gets closer to feeding drum 39, rollers 70extend over the surface of bottom envelope 61, so that as rollers 70engage feeding drum 39, bottom envelope 61 will be inserted betweenfeeding drum 39 and rollers 70. The apertures 79 of feeding drum 39 willthen allow the vacuum within feeding drum 39 to be applied to bottomenvelope 61. Thus, the vacuum applied to the envelope and the pressureapplied to the envelope by rollers 31 will function to positivelyconnect bottom envelope 61 to feeding drum 39, whereupon bottom envelope61 will be completely withdrawn from feeding stack 52 and carried aroundthe bottom of feeding drum 39 toward aligning conveyor 24 (FIG. 16).

As the leading edge of envelope 61 is extended substantially parallel tothe upper flight 80 of conveyor 24, the vacuum applied to the envelopeblank will be released, and conveyor 24 will function to carry theenvelope blank in a direction as indicated by arrow 81. To insure thatthe envelope is perfectly aligned for further processing through theenvelope folder, aligning pins 82 engage the trailing edge of theenvelope blank to push the envelope blank toward the next station in theenvelope folder, which is the station where the scoring mechanism 25functions to create scores in the envelope blank.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the envelope blanks are successively processedthrough scoring mechanism 25, end flap folder 26, glue applicator 28,bottom flap folder 29, and sealing flap folder 30. As is shown in FIGS.18-20, the envelope 61 reaches top flap folder 50 with its body portion56 leading its sealing flap portion 60. As the body portion 56 passesbetween vacuum roller and pressure roller 131, the body portion 56 ispositively driven into holding bracket 132. As the score line ofenvelope 61 passes between vacuum roller 130 and pressure roller 131,slot 138 of pressure roller 131 functions to relieve contact betweenvacuum roller 130 and pressure roller 131 to release envelope 61. Thevacuum within vacuum roller 130 is applied through its apertures 134,whereupon vacuum roller 130 is effective to grasp sealing flap 60 andsimultaneously fold sealing flap 60 on its score line and move envelope61 in a downward direction and out of holding bracket 132. Vacuum roller130 functions to carry envelope 61 into engagement with transfer drum31, whereupon openings 146 of transfer drum 31 function to grasp thebody portion 56 of envelope 61 and carry envelope 61 toward deliverymechanism 32. As the envelope passes around the bottom of transfer drum31, the vacuum exerted on the body portion 56 of the envelope isrelieved and the envelopes are thrust into the slots 152 of slotteddiscs 149. Slotted discs 149 rotate in the direction as indicated byarrow 151, toward endless belt 160. As each slot passes upper flight 158of endless belt 154, it is urged outwardly of its slot. The movement ofupper flight 158 of belt 154 is timed so that it moves at a linearvelocity equal to the effective outwardly linear velocity of themovement of each arcuate slot 152 as it passes belt 154. Thus, thebottom edge of each envelope will be urged outwardly of its respectiveslot 152 at a linear rate sothat no cutting, binding, scorching or dragwill be felt by the bottom edge of the envelopes. As the envelopes areremoved from their respective slots 152 they are stacked on endless belt160. As the envelopes accumulate on endless belt 160, the endless beltis driven intermittently to create more space for the next envelopes.

At this point it should be apparent that the disclosed inventionprovides a positive feed mechanism for extracting envelopes from a feedpile of envelopes, a unique aligning mechanism for positively aligningthe envelopes for subsequent scoring and folding, a versatile scoringmechanism which adapts virtually to any rectangular scoring arrangementand which resist wear and deterioration, a top flap folding mechanismwhich functions to fold a sealing flap of an enstack envelopes withoutdanger of scorching, creasing, tearing or otherwise damaging theenvelopes.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations maybe made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating thepresent invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined bythe appended claims.

lclaim:

l. in a machine of the type utilized for the manufacture of envelopes,the improvement comprising means for accommodating envelope blanks in afeed pile, separating means for separating a portion of the bottomenvelope blank from the feed pile, means movable into the space betweenthe bottom envelope blank and the feed pile to move the envelope towarda vacuum drum, and roller means movable toward engagement with thevacuum drum for positively biasing the bottom envelope blank intoengagement with the surface of the vacuum drum, so that rotation of thevacuum drum withdraws the bottom envelope from the feed pile,

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said roller means is constructed toremain in engagement with and roll over the surface of the bottomenvelope blank as the vacuum drum withdraws the bottom envelope blankfrom the feed pile.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises avacuum arm movable toward and away from the bottom envelope blank forapplying a vacuum to the bottom envelope blank and separating the bottomenvelope blank from the feed pile, and wherein said separating meansfurther includes a retaining hook movable in a direction generallyparallel to the plane of the bottom envelope blank for alternatelysupporting and releasing the bottom envelope blank of the feed pileadjacent in the area of the bottom envelope blank engaged by the vacuumarm.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said means movable into the spacebetween the bottom envelope blank and the feed pile is constructed andarranged to move in a direction generally parallel to the planes of theenvelopes of the feed pile until it enters the space between the bottomenvelope blank and the feed pile and then move in a direction generallytoward the vacuum drum until the envelope blank is grasped by the vacuumdrum.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said vacuum drum is constructed andarranged to rotate in a direction such that the bottom envelope travelswith the vacuum drum first in a downward direction and then around thebottom of the vacuum drum.

1. In a machine of the type utilized for the manufacture of envelopes, the improvement comprising means for accommodating envelope blanks in a feed pile, separating means for separating a portion of the bottom envelope blank from the feed pile, means movable into the space between the bottom envelope blank and the feed pile to move the envelope toward a vacuum drum, and roller means movable toward engagement with the vacuum drum for positively biasing the bottom envelope blank into engagement with the surface of the vacuum drum, so that rotation of the vacuum drum withdraws the bottom envelope from the feed pile.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said roller means is constructed to remain in engagement with and roll over the surface of the bottom envelope blank as the vacuum drum withdraws the bottom envelope blank from the feed pile.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises a vacuum arm movable toward and away from the bottom envelope blank for applying a vacuum to the bottom envelope blank and separating the bottom envelope blank from the feed pile, and wherein said separating means further includes a retaining hook movable in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the bottom envelope blank for alternately supporting and releasing the bottom envelope blank of the feed pile adjacent in the area of the bottom envelope blank engaged by the vacuum arm.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said meAns movable into the space between the bottom envelope blank and the feed pile is constructed and arranged to move in a direction generally parallel to the planes of the envelopes of the feed pile until it enters the space between the bottom envelope blank and the feed pile and then move in a direction generally toward the vacuum drum until the envelope blank is grasped by the vacuum drum.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said vacuum drum is constructed and arranged to rotate in a direction such that the bottom envelope travels with the vacuum drum first in a downward direction and then around the bottom of the vacuum drum. 